I second the reinforcement plates on the rear of the framerails (companies like demello sell them as a kit) and a set of airbags to carry the weight and retain the stock ride if not in it. this is if you plan on USING the rig, if it will just be on the paved roads going to campgrounds it will be ok stock needing maybe only some load leafs to handle the wt. Stock taco rear leafs suck, you could just replace them with some HD springs and be good to go and have a better ride.

NothingClever

11-17-2011, 03:37 PM

I have a pop-up camper (with almost all options) whose data plate reads 740 lbs. From reading here, I knew the truck wouldn't handle the camper in stock form. Here's everything I've done:

My truck now rides great, corners great at speed on the highway and I have plenty of power for real mountain driving both on and off road.

Depending on how your camper is attached to the truck, you might not NEED to install the Demello frame stiffeners although they certainly will improve handling. I am considering installing a flatbed on my Taco and having 4WC complete my camper with some storage boxes. If I do that, I will probably have the frame stiffeners installed.

Although your truck is rated to accept the load, its performance limitations will become apparent quickly in terms of engine, braking and handling performance. If I were to propose a modification sequence, I'd go 1) E-rated sidewalls tires, 2) air bags, 3) re-gear and 4) springs.

A coupla questions to ask....

1) What is the terrain like that you anticipate driving? Mountains or rolling plains?

2) Does the truck also serve as a DD?

3) Do you pack the kitchen sink when you camp or do you cut down your toothbrush to save ounces in a backpack?

HTH. Best of luck!

Jonathan Hanson

11-17-2011, 03:43 PM

My concern would be less about the weight and more about the weight distribution. If, indeed, the camper will hang out beyond the dropped tailgate, you're adding a lot of mass where it wasn't intended to be. I'd expect both spring sag and sway to be magnified over, say, a properly fitted Four Wheel Camper, which weighs around 700 pounds empty, but orients the center of its mass over the rear axle.

On our 2000 Tacoma TRD we added air bags and heavy duty shocks, which took care of the addition of a FWC with no trouble.

NothingClever

11-17-2011, 03:51 PM

maybe a couple inches over the tailgate......

I re-read your post....you probably would benefit from the frame stiffeners.

Gerdo

11-24-2011, 03:32 PM

4 cylinder or a V6? Either way, The mountains will slow you down, more with the extra 1000#. Is it doable? Sure. I tow my 2000# trailer thru the mountains, 3.4L, and I get my mind set on "it's going to go the speed it's going to go". On the flats, you probably won't know that it's there.

Go for it and know that you may need to add some of the above mentioned items.

robski

11-24-2011, 05:04 PM

I have a fourwheel camper (680lbs dry weight) on my 01 DC and been thru northern coast, mountain road in CA with no issue. My camper is intended for 6' bed so it stick out more than a foot. I just made my own rear spring consist of stock oem with additional firestone airbag and HD rear shocks. No frame reinforcement yet but that will be my next project and I'll just make my own.

my camper. 1983 Valley 7.5 approximate dry weight 800lbs. Well that is the weight less our cloths and snowboards. There is no water tank, or black water. I also gutted some of the cupboards to make room for drying racks.

I might look into some Timbrens, and make them easily removable for when the camper is off. Otherwise rolls down the highway fine, I live in Calgary AB and most of my driving (while the camper is on) is in the mountains.